Key Bridge in Baltimore collapses into water after being hit by cargo ship

Baltimore’s Key Bridge has collapsed after it was hit by a container ship, sending cars that were crossing at the time plunging into the waters of the Patapsco River.

As many as 20 workers are believed to be in the water after a container ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, according to a local fire chief. The previous total was believed to be seven.

A State of Emergency has been declared by Maryland’s governor, Wes Moore, and said he is working with an interageny team to deploy federal resources.

Multiple videos shared on social media showed a large cargo ship ramming into one of the bridge’s support pillars, causing it to come crashing down into the river.

Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the fire department, said the city was dealing with a “developing mass casualty incident.”

A large portion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge is now under water, as flight tracking website FlightRadar24 showed the Maryland State Police circling the site of the crash in a helicopter.

Mr Cartwright added that a multi-agency rescue is currently under way, with dive team members actively going into the river to try and locate the individuals that are feared to be in the water.

The Coast Guard said it has deployed small boats and helicopters to search for the people feared within the water.

Yet freezing conditions are “posing a concern” as the rescue personnel continue to carry out their search.

“It feels like at least about 30 degrees (-1°C) where I am,” Mr Cartwright told CNN. “It could be slightly lower than that. And I’m sure that the water temperature is even colder... And that can pose a concern and risk for our divers.”

The container ship involved appears to be a Singapore-flagged vessel named Dali, live maritime data showed on Tuesday. It had just departed the port in Baltimore and was headed for the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, where it was due to arrive in late April.

All crew members, including two pilots, on the container ship are accounted for and uninjured, the owners have confirmed in a statement.

The 911 calls relating to the incident began from around 1.30am, he said, as members of the public said a vessel travelling out of Baltimore’s port had struck a column on the bridge. Multiple vehicles, including one the size of a tractor-trailer, were on the bridge at the time of strike.

"Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people," Mr Cartwright said, adding that its too early to know how many people are affected.

There are “some cargo or retainers hanging from the bridge”, he said, creating unsafe and unstable conditions. Emergency responders are operating cautiously. "This is a dire emergency," he added.

The 47-year-old Key Bridge collapsed due to a “ship strike” incident and has been closed to traffic, the Maryland Transportation Authority said on X in a statement.

“All lanes closed both directions for incident on I-695 Key Bridge. Traffic is being detoured,” it said.

Baltimore mayor Brandon M Scott said emergency personnel were on the scene and rescue efforts underway.

“I’m aware of and en route to the incident at the Key Bridge. I have been in contact with [Baltimore Fire Department] Chief Wallace, [Maryland governor] Wes Moore, [Baltimore County executive] Johnny Olszewski and [AnneArundel County executive] Steuart Pittman. Emergency personnel are on scene, and efforts are underway,” he wrote on X.

United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said on X that he has spoken with mayor Scott and governor Moore to offer the Department of Transportation’s support following the collapse of the bridge.

He added that rescue efforts remain underway.